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Magic Weekend 2015

McNamara to remain as England coach

13th of December 2013

The RFL is delighted to announce that it has reached an agreement with Steve McNamara that will see him continue in his position as head coach of the England Rugby League team.

McNamara will remain as England coach in a part-time capacity and will combine the role with that of assistant coach at Australian club Sydney Roosters, where he will work alongside former Catalan Dragons coach Trent Robinson.

RFL Chief Executive Nigel Wood said: “It gives me great pleasure to confirm that Steve has agreed to continue as England coach into 2014 when we will be looking to build on the advances seen over the last four years.

“We have made considerable progress internationally over the past four years and this arrangement provides stability and continuity.

“It also allows Steve and the England coaching staff to continue working towards our goal of achieving the international success we so narrowly missed out on in Rugby League World Cup 2013.

“The systems and structures that have been put in place during Steve’s tenure as England coach have put Rugby League in this country in a good place and this move will ensure that we continue to make progress.

“Steve can also realise his own desire to return to club coaching and I am sure his involvement with Sydney Roosters will have a positive impact on his own career development.”

England’s next scheduled fixtures will take place in the 2014 Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand next autumn of 2014 when McNamara believes both he and the national team will be perfectly prepared.

“I would like to thank the RFL Board of Directors for giving me this opportunity to carry on working with an outstanding group of players who I firmly believe are on the verge of achieving sustained success,” said McNamara.

“I have a great team around me within the England camp and the RFL Performance Department and I will be maintaining regular contact with them all, as well as all the Elite Training Squad players, following my move to Australia

“I am going to miss rubbing shoulders with the fantastic RFL staff that I have been privileged to work with over the last four years: I’m indebted to them for their friendship and support.

“It’s always been an ambition of mine to coach in the NRL and the chance to work with the NRL champions is something that doesn’t come along very often.

“I have a great relationship with Trent Robinson and am looking forward to working alongside him and the rest of the Roosters staff in what is a very exciting chapter in my career.”

Sydney Roosters head coach Trent Robinson said: “I have a lot of respect for the work Steve has put in to developing England’s players and squad and I’m pleased to have him joining our staff.

“I have known Steve for a long time and he will do a great job rounding out our team alongside Jason Taylor and Craig Fitzgibbon.

“Steve is a coach with huge integrity and I’m looking forward to him applying his knowledge and contributing to our development at the Sydney Roosters in 2014.”

Roosters Chief Operating Officer Football Brian Canavan said: “With his previous coaching experience, we are confident that Steve will provide wonderful assistance as a key member of our Football Department.

“We look forward to Steve officially joining the Roosters in the New Year.”

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